Connector for an agricultural vehicle

ABSTRACT

An agricultural vehicle includes: a chassis; a tank carried by the chassis; at least one meter module coupled to the tank, the at least one meter module having at least one gate; a gate control link coupled with the at least one gate of the at least one meter module; a control rod carried by the chassis; and a connector coupling the control rod to the gate control link at a connection interface such that movement of the control rod controls an open state of the at least one gate of the at least one meter module, the connector having a frangible portion adjacent the connection interface, the control rod and the gate control link uncoupling from one another upon a breaking force causing the frangible portion to break.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to agricultural vehicles, and, moreparticularly, to connectors for agricultural vehicles.

2. Description of the Related Art

Air carts are commonly used in agricultural applications. They are oftentowed behind an agricultural tilling implement, which in turn is towedbehind an agricultural vehicle such as a tractor. The primary functionof the air cart is to supply agricultural products such as seed,fertilizer, and/or herbicide to the tilling implement and subsequentlyto the field.

Air carts generally include a metering system which includes metermodules for dispensing material from one or more tanks and a pneumaticdistribution system for delivering the material from the tank or tanksto the soil. In the case of multiple tanks, the tanks can be separatetanks, or a single tank with internal compartments. A centrifugal fanprovides at least one airstream which flows through the pneumaticdistribution system. Material is first introduced to the air stream bythe metering system at a primary distribution manifold located below themetering system. Material is carried by the air stream throughdistribution lines to a series of secondary distribution manifolds,which in turn distribute the material through distribution lines toground openers on the implement so that the product may be evenlydelivered to the ground.

The individual meter modules of the metering system each generallyinclude multiple channels which are opened and closed by a respectivelyassociated internal gate, and may be identical in construction. Therelative positioning of the internal gates, i.e., open or closed, ofeach meter module controls material flow through the meter module. Tokeep the relative material flow through each of the individual metermodules the same, some air carts are equipped with an externallyaccessible control rod which is coupled to a corresponding gate of eachmeter module by a respective control link. For example, a single controlrod may be connected to a first gate of each individual meter module byrespective control links connected to the control rod, so movement ofthe control rod will cause the first gate of each individual metermodule to open or close. In such a configuration, an operator can easilyadjust the material flow through multiple meter modules without needingto individually adjust the gates of each meter module.

One particular problem with such a configuration can occur when materialinside the meter module obstructs the opening or closing of a gate. Insuch a scenario, the gate and associated control link are effectivelystuck so movement of the control rod, such as rotation, acts as a shearforce on the control link and gate. Many control rods are manuallycontrolled by an operator, who may excessively push on the control rodin an effort to free up the obstruction in the meter module andinadvertently produce a shear force that can break the control linkand/or gate.

In some air cart configurations, the control link is configured to actas a breaking point to protect the gates of the meter module, which arerelatively difficult and time-consuming to repair compared to thecontrol link due to being inside the meter module. In suchconfigurations, each control link can be connected to an axle of therespective gate and rigidly connected to the control rod by a threadedshoulder bolt. When the force from the control rod becomes too great,the control link breaks to act as a fuse for the system and protect thecontrol rod and connected gate from breakage. While such a solution canreliably protect the gates of the meter modules from breaking, all ofthe control links must be uncoupled from the control rod to replace abroken control link, which can be relatively time-consuming. Forexample, on an air cart with many meter modules, it can take 30 minutesor more to replace a single control link. Further, other control linksmay be damaged during the repair process due to over-torqueing of theshoulder bolts.

What is needed in the art is an agricultural vehicle which overcomessome of the previously described problems of known agriculturalvehicles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a connector with a frangible portionadjacent a connection interface between a gate of a meter module and agate control link.

The invention in one form is directed to an agricultural vehicleincluding: a chassis; a tank carried by the chassis; at least one metermodule coupled to the tank, the at least one meter module having atleast one gate; a gate control link coupled with the at least one gateof the at least one meter module; a control rod carried by the chassis;and a connector coupling the control rod to the gate control link at aconnection interface such that movement of the control rod controls anopen state of the at least one gate of the at least one meter module,the connector having a frangible portion adjacent the connectioninterface, the control rod and the gate control link uncoupling from oneanother upon a breaking force causing the frangible portion to break.

The invention in another form is directed to a metering system for anagricultural vehicle including: at least one meter module having atleast one gate; a gate control link coupled with the at least one gateof the at least one meter module; a control rod; and a connectorcoupling the control rod to the gate control link at a connectioninterface such that movement of the control rod controls an open stateof the at least one gate of the at least one meter module, the connectorhaving a frangible portion adjacent the connection interface, thecontrol rod and the gate control link uncoupling from one another upon abreaking force causing the frangible portion to break.

An advantage of the previously described agricultural vehicle is theconnector can be a relatively simple and inexpensive part to replace.

Another advantage is the connector can be placed in aligned respectiveopenings of the gate control link and control rod such that a brokenconnector can be replaced simply by pushing a replacement connectorthrough the aligned openings without needing any tools.

Yet another advantage is the breaking force required to break thefrangible portion can be controlled by adjusting the structure of thefrangible portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention,and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and theinvention will be better understood by reference to the followingdescription of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of an agricultural vehicle, shownin the form of an air cart, formed according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a metering system of the air cart shownin FIG. 1;

FIG. 3A is a first sectional view of a meter module of the meteringsystem shown in FIGS. 1-2;

FIG. 3B is a second sectional view of the meter module shown in FIG. 3Awith an opened second gate;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a gate of the meter module shown in FIG. 3connected to a gate control link;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a connector formedaccording to the present invention for connecting the gate control linkshown in FIG. 4 to a control rod;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the connector shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is another side view of the connector shown in FIGS. 5-6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the connector shown in FIGS. 5-7coupling a gate control link to a control rod of the agriculturalvehicle;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the connector shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is another cross-sectional view of the connector shown in FIG.8;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the connector shown in FIGS. 8-10after a breaking force has caused a frangible portion of the connectorto bend;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the connector shown in FIG. 11after the breaking force has caused the frangible portion to break,uncoupling the gate control link from the control rod;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of aconnector formed according to the present invention for connecting thegate control link shown in FIG. 4 to a control rod;

FIG. 14 is a side view of the connector shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is another side view of the connector shown in FIGS. 13-14;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the connector shown in FIGS. 13-15coupling a gate control link to a control rod of the agriculturalvehicle;

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of the connector shown in FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is another cross-sectional view of the connector shown in FIG.16; and

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of the connector shown in FIGS. 16-18after a breaking force has caused a frangible portion of the connectorto break, uncoupling the gate control link from the control rod.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views. The exemplification set out hereinillustrates one embodiment of the invention and such exemplification isnot to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in anymanner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown an illustration of a portion ofan exemplary agricultural seeding or fertilizing system 10 according tothe present invention. Agricultural seeding or fertilizing system 10generally includes an agricultural vehicle 12, shown in the form of anair cart 12, and a tilling implement 14 (with only the rear hitch 16 oftilling implement 14 shown). Air cart 12 may also be configured with arear hitch (not shown) allowing air cart 12 to be towed in front of,rather than behind, tilling implement 14.

Air cart 12 generally includes a chassis 18 which carries steerablefront wheels 20, rear wheels 22, tank 24, blower fan arrangement 26, andauger 28. Tank 24 is illustrated as a multi-compartment tank withinternal divider walls (not shown) separating the compartments. In theembodiment shown, tank 24 has three compartments 24A, 24B and 24C witheach compartment containing a material to be deposited into the soil(such as seed, fertilizer, herbicide and/or insecticide). Eachcompartment 24A, 24B and 24C has a top hatch 30 allowing loading of thematerial therein. In other embodiments not shown, air cart 12 mayinclude multiple tanks 24.

Air cart 12 further includes a pneumatic distribution system 32 fordelivering the agricultural material to the trenches in the soil formedby tilling implement 14. Pneumatic distribution system 32 includes ametering system 34 (not specifically shown in FIG. 1), blower fanarrangement 26, and a plurality of air lines 36. In the illustratedembodiment, three primary air lines 36 are shown, one from each tankcompartment 24A, 24B and 24C. However, the number of air lines 36 canvary, depending upon the application.

Air lines 36 extend to and terminate at a convenient location forcoupling with air lines 38 associated with tilling implement 14. In theembodiment shown, air lines 36 are supported at the forward end of aircart 12 with a support yoke 40. Each air line 36 terminates at arespective fluid (air) line connection 42. In the embodiment shown, eachfluid line connection 42 includes a female connector 44 associated witheach air line 36 and a male connector 46 associated with an end of eachair line 38. However, the orientation of each fluid line connection 42may be reversed such that each female connector 44 is associated with acorresponding air line 38 of tilling implement 14. Each male connector46 is received within and fluidly seals with a respective femaleconnector 44.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the metering system 34 is shown in more detailand generally includes a plurality of meter modules 50 which can receivematerial from the tank 24 via a hopper 52 between the tank 24 and themeter modules 50. The meter modules 50 and hopper 52 can all beconnected to and supported by a metering frame 56 carried by the chassis18. As can be seen, the metering system 34 also includes a plurality ofcontrol rods 58A, 58B, 58C connected to respective gates 60A, 60B, 60C(shown in FIG. 3) of the meter modules 50, as will be described furtherherein. The plurality of control rods 58A, 58B, 58C can include firstcontrol rods 58A, second control rods 58B, and third control rods 58C,with each of the control rods 58A, 58B, 58C connecting to a respectivecontrol rod linkage 62A, 62B, 62C pivotably connected to the meteringframe 56. Each control rod linkage 62A, 62B, 62C can be engaged by acontrol handle 64, which may be referred to as a user interface, tocause movement of the respectively connected control rods 58A, 58B, 58Cand adjust an open state of the respectively connected gates 60A, 60B,60C. As shown in FIG. 2, the control handle 64 is connected to thecontrol rod linkage 62A and may be rotated by an operator to rotate thefirst control rods 58A to open or close the respectively connected gates60A. The control handle 64 may be removably coupled to the control rodlinkages 62A, 62B, 62C so an operator may slide the control handle 64onto a desired control rod linkage, rotate the control handle 64 tochange the open state of the gates 60A, 60B, 60C connected to thecontrol rod linkage 62A, 62B, 62C by the respective control rod 58A,58B, 58C, and then slide the control handle 64 off the control rodlinkage 62A, 62B, 62C to engage another control rod linkage 62A, 62B,62C, if desired.

Referring now to FIGS. 3A and 3B, a cross-sectional view of one of themeter modules 50 is shown. As can be seen, the meter module 50 includesa metering wheel 66 which can rotate to distribute material, such asseed, fertilizer, herbicide, etc., through the meter module 50.Referring specifically now to FIG. 3A, the metering wheel 66 can rotatein a counter-clockwise direction, indicated by arrow CCW, so materialcarried by the metering wheel 66 passes by a first gate 60A into adistribution channel 68 of the meter module 50. Since a second gate 60Band third gate 60C shown in FIG. 3A are also in the closed position, thematerial from the metering wheel 66 will exit the meter module 50through an ungated outlet 70 and land on the ground below theagricultural vehicle 10 or, alternatively, a trough (not shown) placedbelow the meter module 50. Referring specifically now to FIG. 3B, it canbe seen that the second gate 60B has been moved from its closedposition, shown in FIG. 3A, to its open position so material from themetering wheel 66 will enter the distribution channel 68 and be directedby the open second gate 60B to an associated first airstream outlet 72Afor distribution. Similarly, the third gate 60C can be associated with asecond airstream outlet 72B so when the third gate 60C is open and thefirst and second gates 60A, 60B are closed, material from the meteringwheel 66 will exit out the second airstream outlet 72B.

Referring now to FIG. 4, an exemplary embodiment of a gate control link80 formed according to the present invention is shown connected to agate axle 82 of a first gate 60A to control the open state of the firstgate 60A. As can be seen, the gate control link 80 includes an axleopening 84 in which the gate axle 82 is placed. The gate axle 82 can beheld tightly within the axle opening 84 so rotation of the gate controllink 80 will cause a corresponding rotation of the gate axle 82 andfirst gate 60A, opening or closing the first gate 60A within the metermodule 50. The gate control link 80 can also include a link connectionopening 86 formed in a link surface 88 for connecting to one of thefirst control rods 58A, as will be described further herein.

Referring now to FIGS. 5-12, an exemplary embodiment of a connector 90formed according to the present invention is shown which connects thefirst control rod 58A to the gate control link 80 at a connectioninterface CI1 (shown in FIGS. 9-12), and thus connects movement of thefirst control rod 58A to the first gate 60A. It should be appreciatedthat while the connector 90 is shown and described herein as connectingthe first control rod 58A to the gate control link 80 and first gate60A, the connector 90 can also be used to connect the second and thirdcontrol rods 58B, 58C to a gate control link 80 coupled to the secondand third gates 60B, 60C, respectively, to control the open state of thesecond and third gates 60B, 60C by movement of the respective controlrods 58B, 58C. The connector 90 can include a head 92 with a pair ofretention surfaces 94A, 94B extending therefrom and a connector post 96extending from the head 92. As can be seen, the connector post 96 can beconnected to an insertion portion 97 including two or more legs, shownas four legs 98A, 98B, 98C, 98D, formed with a split 100 between thelegs 98A, 98B, 98C, 98D so the legs 98A, 98B, 98C, 98D can be compressedtoward one another, allowing the legs 98A, 98B, 98C, 98D to compress andpass through a rod connection opening 102 formed in a rod surface 104 ofthe first control rod 58A and the link connection opening 86 of the gatecontrol link 80 to connect the gate control link 80 and first gate 60Ato the first control rod 58A. As shown herein, the insertion portion 97can have a smaller diameter than the connector post 96.

The connector 90 includes a frangible portion 110 which is adjacent tothe connection interface CI1 between the first control rod 58A and thegate control link 80. As used herein, the frangible portion 110 is“adjacent” to the connection interface CI1 in the sense that thefrangible portion 110 will tend to be subjected to shear forces thatoccur at the connection interface CI1 due to relative freedom betweenthe first control rod 58A and the gate control link 80 at the connectioninterface CI1. In this respect, the connection interface CI1 can bedefined as a shear plane, with an axis in the connection interface CIbeing illustrated in FIGS. 9-12 for ease of illustration, when the gatecontrol link 80 is stuck, due to obstruction of the first gate 60A orotherwise, and a force is acting on the first control rod 58A, or viceversa. By having the frangible portion 110 of the connector 90 adjacentto the shear plane defined by the connection interface CI1, thefrangible portion 110 can break upon a sufficient breaking force,illustrated as arrow BF in FIG. 12, acting on the frangible portion 110.For example, the breaking force BF can cause the frangible portion 110to first bend, as shown in FIG. 11, and ultimately separate so the gatecontrol link 80 and first control rod 58A uncouple from one another, asshown in FIG. 12.

The frangible portion 110, as shown, can include one or more notches,shown as one notch 112 in FIGS. 5-12, which reside in the shear planedefined by the connection interface CI1. As shown, the notch 112 can beformed as a circumferential notch between the connector post 96 and theinsertion portion 97. As can be seen in FIGS. 9-10, the notch 112 canhave a bottom 114 which is aligned with the connection interface CI1 andrepresents a weak point of the connector 90 due to a material thicknessT1 of the connector 90 being relatively small at the notch 112 and thebottom 114 being subjected to the brunt of the shear force actingthrough the shear plane defined by the connection interface CI1. Thematerial thickness T1 of the frangible portion 110 at the notch 112 canbe altered, as desired, to control the breaking force BF which isnecessary to cause the frangible portion 110 to break and cause thecontrol rod 58A and gate control link 80 to uncouple from one another.The material thickness T1 of the frangible portion 110 at the notch 112can be adjusted, for example, so a breaking force required to bend andbreak the frangible portion 110 is smaller than a force that would causedamage to the connected control rod and gate. In other words, thefrangible portion 110 can be configured to break due to a breaking forceBF which is smaller than a force that would cause damage to theconnected control rod and gate. The connector 90 can also include a bore121 (shown in FIGS. 9-12) formed between the connector post 96 and theinsertion portion 97 to further weaken the frangible portion 110, ifdesired, and reduce the breaking force required to break the frangibleportion 110.

The connector 90, therefore, can act as a fuse of the metering system 34and protect the relatively difficult-to-replace gates 60A, 60B, 60C,gate control links 80, and control rods 58A, 58B, 58C from breaking dueto shear force that occurs when moving the control rods 58A, 58B, 58C tochange the open state of the respectively connected gates 60A, 60B, 60C.To make replacement of the connector 90 fairly economical, the connector90 can comprise, for example, a polymer such as a resin and be formed byinjection molding. Forming the connector 90 by injection molding of aresin, such as a glass fill reinforced nylon, can allow for the massproduction of the connector 90 at a relatively economical price,allowing an operator to economically keep replacement connectors 90 onhand in the event that an installed connector 90 breaks. It should beappreciated that while the previously described frangible portion 110includes one notch 112A, the frangible portion 110 can be formed withmore than one notch, as will be described further herein. Alternatively,the frangible portion 110 can be formed of a weaker material than therest of the connector 90, such as a lower strength polymer, so thefrangible portion 110 is more prone to breakage than the rest of theconnector 90. The frangible portion 110 can be weakened, relative to therest of the connector 90, in many other ways so that the frangibleportion 110 being placed adjacent to the connection interface CI1 willtend to cause the frangible portion 110 to act as a fuse, and theforegoing examples of the frangible portion 110 should not be construedas limiting the present invention to any particular frangible portionconfiguration.

To assist with proper placement of the connector 90 during initialplacement or replacement, two or more of the legs 98A, 98C can include ahooked insertion end 106 which is tapered and has a shoulder 108 whichcan abut against the link surface 88 to prevent the connector 90 frombeing pulled back out of the link connection opening 86 and rodconnection opening 102. To couple the control rod 58A and gate controllink 80 with the shown connector 90, the hooked insertion ends 106 canbe pushed through the aligned link connection opening 86 and rodconnection opening 102, with the legs 98A, 98B, 98C, 98D compressingtoward one another as the connector 90 is pushed through, until thehooked insertion ends 106 are fully through the link connection opening86 and “snap” out, producing an audible and/or tactile indication to theoperator that the connector 90 is in place and allowing connection ofthe control rod 58A and gate control link 80 without requiring anytools. The head 92 of the connector 90 abutting against the rod surface104 can prevent the connector 90 from being pushed through the rodconnection opening 102 and the link connection opening 86, keeping theconnector 90 in place. The previously described retention surfaces 94A,94B can be placed adjacent to opposite surfaces 59A, 59B of the controlrod 58A to both align placement of the connector post 96 within the rodconnection opening 102 and limit relative bending of the head 92 andconnector post 96 near the rod connection opening 102. While the head 92is shown as having a pair of retention surfaces 94A, 94B, the head 92may only include one retention surface or more than two retentionsurfaces, if desired. The split 100 can define a split axis SA1therethrough, and the connector 90 can include one or more protrusions120A, 120B, 120C, 120D extending from the insertion portion 97orthogonally to the split axis SA. As shown, each of the legs 98A, 98B,98C, 98D has a respective protrusion 120A, 120B, 120C, 120D orthogonallyextending therefrom which can be rounded.

Referring now to FIG. 11, the connector 90 is shown after beingsubjected to a bending force, represented by arrow DF, which issufficient to cause the connector 90 to bend at the frangible portion110 without breaking. As can be seen, the frangible portion 110 willtend to be where bending of the connector 90 occurs due to beingadjacent to the connection interface CI1 as well as having the notch 112concentrate stress in the frangible portion 110. To allow for theconnector 90 to bend at the frangible portion 110 without the frangibleportion 110 breaking, the link connection opening 86 can be formed witha plurality of diameters to allow bending at the frangible portion 110,as shown in FIG. 11. The protrusions 120A, 120B, 120C, 120D of the legs98A, 98B, 98C, 98D can contact a small diameter SD of the linkconnection opening 86 so the bending force DF can transmit to thefrangible portion 110 and bend the frangible portion 110. If the forceacting on the protrusions 120A, 120B, 120C, 120D of the legs 98A, 98B,98C, 98D is sufficiently high, such as the breaking force BF shown inFIG. 12, the frangible portion 110 will bend and break, uncoupling thecontrol rod 58A and gate control link 80 so the force does not transmitto connected gate 60A.

If the connector 90 breaks, as shown in FIG. 12, replacement is fairlysimple and straightforward. An operator can pull the head 92 of theconnector 90 away from the control rod 58A, if vibration of the vehicle10 has not dislodged the head 92, so the rod connection opening 102 isnot filled. The operator may then take a replacement connector 90, andpush the hooked insertion ends 106 into the rod connection opening 102.As the hooked insertion ends 106 are pushed into the rod connectionopening 102, past the connection interface CI1, and into the linkconnection opening 86, the hooked insertion ends 106 can push anyremnants of the broken connector out of the link connection opening 86.Once the replacement connector 90 is properly pushed through the linkconnection opening 86 and the rod connection opening 102 so theshoulders 108 are out of the link connection opening 86, the legs 98A,98B, 98C, 98D of the insertion portion 97 can snap out to indicate tothe operator that the gate control link 80 and control rod 58A arecoupled together. It should be appreciated that while the previouslydescribed and shown connector 90 has the head 92 abutting against thecontrol rod 58A and the shoulder 108 adjacent the gate control link 80,this configuration can be reversed, if desired.

Referring now to FIGS. 13-19, another exemplary embodiment of aconnector 190 formed according to the present invention is shown whichconnects a control rod 158A to a gate control link 180 at a connectioninterface CI2, and thus connects movement of the control rod 158A to arespectively connected gate, such as first gate 60A. It should beappreciated that elements shown in FIGS. 13-19 which are similar toelements shown in FIGS. 2-12 are assigned a similar reference numeralraised by 100. The connector 190 can include a head 192 with a pair ofretention surfaces 194A, 194B extending therefrom and a connector post196 extending from the head 192. As can be seen, the connector post 196can include two or more legs, shown as two legs 198A and 198B formedwith a split 200 between the legs 198A, 198B so the legs 198A, 198B canbe compressed toward one another, allowing the legs 198A, 198B tocompress and pass through a rod connection opening 202 formed in a rodsurface 204 of the control rod 158A and a link connection opening 186 ofthe gate control link 180 to connect the gate control link 180 and firstgate 60A to the control rod 158A.

The connector 190 includes a frangible portion 210 which is adjacent tothe connection interface CI2 between the control rod 158A and the gatecontrol link 180, similarly to the previously described frangibleportion 110, so the frangible portion 210 can break upon a sufficientbreaking force, illustrated as arrow BF in FIG. 19, acting on thefrangible portion 210, which causes the frangible portion 210 toseparate and the gate control link 180 and control rod 158A to uncouplefrom one another. The frangible portion 210, as shown, can include twoor more notches 212A, 212B formed in the connector post 196 which residein the shear plane defined by the connection interface CI2. As shown,each notch 212A, 212B can be formed in one of the respective legs 198A,198B of the connector post 196. The notches 212A, 212B can each have abottom 214A, 214B at a respective depth DA, DB of the notches 212A, 212Bwhich is aligned with the connection interface CI2 and togetherrepresent a weak point of the connector post 196 due to a materialthickness T2 of the connector post 196 being relatively small betweenthe bottoms 214A, 214B of the notches 212A, 212B and the bottoms 214A,214B being subjected to the brunt of the shear force acting through theshear plane defined by the connection interface CI2. Each notch 212A,212B can be defined by a respective pair of sidewalls 216A, 216B whichintersect at the respective bottoms 214A, 214B and together define anotch angle NαA, NαB of the notches 212A, 212B. The depths DA, DB andnotch angles NαA, NαB of the notches 212A, 212B can be altered, asdesired, to control the breaking force BF which is necessary to causethe frangible portion 210 to break and cause the control rod 158A andgate control link 180 to uncouple from one another.

To assist with proper placement of the connector 190 during initialplacement or replacement, each of the legs 198A, 198B can include ahooked insertion end 206 which is tapered and has a shoulder 208 whichcan abut against a link surface 188 of the gate control link 180 toprevent the connector 190 from being pulled back out of the linkconnection opening 186 and rod connection opening 202. To couple thecontrol rod 158A and gate control link 180 with the shown connector 190,the hooked insertion ends 206 can be pushed through the aligned linkconnection opening 186 and rod connection opening 202, with the legs198A, 198B compressing toward one another as the connector 190 is pushedthrough, until the hooked insertion ends 206 are fully through the linkconnection opening 186 and “snap” out, producing an audible and/ortactile indication to the operator that the connector 190 is in placeand allowing connection of the control rod 158A and gate control link180 without requiring any tools. The head 192 of the connector 190abutting against the rod surface 204 can prevent the connector 190 frombeing pushed through the rod connection opening 202 and the linkconnection opening 186, keeping the connector 190 in place. Thepreviously described retention surfaces 194A, 194B can be placedadjacent to opposite surfaces 159A, 159B of the control rod 158A to bothalign placement of the connector post 196 within the rod connectionopening 202 and limit relative bending of the head 192 near the rodconnection opening 202. While the head 192 is shown as having a pair ofretention surfaces 194A, 194B, the head 192 may only include oneretention surface or more than two retention surfaces, if desired. Thesplit 200 can define a split axis SA2 therethrough, and the connector190 can include a protrusion 220 extending from the connector post 196orthogonally to the split axis SA2. Since the legs 198A, 198B, as shown,compress toward the split axis SA2 when compressed toward one another,having the protrusion 220 extend orthogonally to the split axis SA2 canact as a stop for the connector 190 so the connector 190 is not overlypushed through the aligned link connection opening 186 and rodconnection opening 202. The protrusion 220 can, for example, have afirst end 222 which connects to the head 192 and a second end 224 thatterminates at the frangible portion 210, such as at the notches 212A,212B, so the frangible portion 210 stays adjacent to the connectioninterface CI2 during operation.

If the connector 190 breaks, as shown in FIG. 19, replacement is fairlysimple and straightforward. An operator can pull the head 192 of theconnector 190 away from the control rod 158A, if vibration of thevehicle 10 has not dislodged the head 192, so the rod connection opening202 is not filled. The operator may then take a replacement connector190, and push the hooked insertion ends 206 into the rod connectionopening 202. As the hooked insertion ends 206 are pushed into the rodconnection opening 202, past the connection interface CI2, and into thelink connection opening 186, the hooked insertion ends 206 can push anyremnants of the broken connector out of the link connection opening 186.Once the replacement connector 190 is properly pushed through the linkconnection opening 186 and the rod connection opening 202 so theshoulder 208 is out of the link connection opening 186, the legs 198A,198B of the connector post 196 can snap out to indicate to the operatorthat the gate control link 180 and control rod 158A are coupledtogether. It should be appreciated that while the previously describedand shown connector 190 has the head 192 abutting against the controlrod 158A and the shoulder 208 adjacent the gate control link 180, thisconfiguration can be reversed, if desired.

While this invention has been described with respect to at least oneembodiment, the present invention can be further modified within thespirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is thereforeintended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the inventionusing its general principles. Further, this application is intended tocover such departures from the present disclosure as come within knownor customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains andwhich fall within the limits of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An agricultural vehicle, comprising: a chassis; atank carried by said chassis; at least one meter module coupled to saidtank, said at least one meter module having at least one gate; a gatecontrol link coupled with said at least one gate of said at least onemeter module; a control rod carried by said chassis; and a connectorcoupling said control rod to said gate control link at a connectioninterface such that movement of said control rod controls an open stateof said at least one gate of said at least one meter module, saidconnector having a frangible portion adjacent said connection interface,said control rod and said gate control link uncoupling from one anotherupon a breaking force causing said frangible portion to break.
 2. Theagricultural vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said frangibleportion includes at least one notch formed therein.
 3. The agriculturalvehicle according to claim 2, wherein said connection interface definesa shear plane and a bottom of said at least one notch is aligned withsaid shear plane.
 4. The agricultural vehicle according to claim 3,wherein said connector includes at least two spaced apart legs defininga split therebetween.
 5. The agricultural vehicle according to claim 4,wherein said gate control link includes a link surface having a linkconnection opening formed therein, at least two of said spaced apartlegs partially filling said link connection opening and including ahooked insertion end with a shoulder abutting against said link surface.6. The agricultural vehicle according to claim 5, wherein said controlrod includes a rod surface having a rod connection opening formedtherein and said connector includes a head abutting against said rodsurface.
 7. The agricultural vehicle according to claim 4, wherein saidsplit defines a split axis through said connector, at least one of saidlegs having a protrusion extending orthogonally relative to said splitaxis.
 8. The agricultural vehicle according to claim 7, wherein each ofsaid legs has a rounded protrusion.
 9. The agricultural vehicleaccording to claim 1, wherein said frangible portion is configured tobreak due to a breaking force which is smaller than a force that wouldcause damage to the connected control rod and gate
 10. The agriculturalvehicle according to claim 1, wherein said at least one notch comprisesat least two notches.
 11. The agricultural vehicle according to claim10, wherein said connector includes a pair of spaced apart legs defininga split therebetween, each of said legs having at least one of said atleast two notches formed therein.
 12. The agricultural vehicle accordingto claim 1, wherein said gate control link includes a link surfacehaving a link connection opening formed therein and said control rodincludes a rod surface having a rod connection opening formed thereinwhich is aligned with said link connection opening, said connectorhaving a connector post placed in said link connection opening and saidrod connection opening and including said frangible portion.
 13. Theagricultural vehicle according to claim 12, wherein said link connectionopening defines a plurality of diameters.
 14. A metering system for anagricultural vehicle, comprising: at least one meter module having atleast one gate; a gate control link coupled with said at least one gateof said at least one meter module; a control rod; and a connectorcoupling said control rod to said gate control link at a connectioninterface such that movement of said control rod controls an open stateof said at least one gate of said at least one meter module, saidconnector having a frangible portion adjacent said connection interface,said control rod and said gate control link uncoupling from one anotherupon a breaking force causing said frangible portion to break.
 15. Themetering system according to claim 14, wherein said frangible portionincludes at least one notch formed therein.
 16. The metering systemaccording to claim 15, wherein said connection interface defines a shearplane and a bottom of said at least one notch is aligned with said shearplane.
 17. The metering system according to claim 16, wherein saidconnector includes at least two spaced apart legs defining a splittherebetween.
 18. The metering system according to claim 17, whereinsaid gate control link includes a link surface having a link connectionopening formed therein, at least two of said spaced apart legs partiallyfilling said link connection opening and including a hooked insertionend with a shoulder abutting against said link surface.
 19. The meteringsystem according to claim 17, wherein said split defines a split axisthrough said connector, at least one of said legs having a protrusionextending orthogonally relative to said split axis.
 20. The meteringsystem according to claim 14, wherein said frangible portion isconfigured to break due to a breaking force which is smaller than aforce that would cause damage to the connected control rod and gate